Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist (COMT) Practice Exam

The inflammation and swelling of which muscle group primarily cause ocular changes in Graves' disease?

1. Lacrimal muscles

2. Extraocular muscles

3. Skeletal muscles

4. Ciliary muscles

The correct answer is: Extraocular muscles

In Graves' disease, the primary ocular changes are primarily attributed to the inflammation and swelling of the extraocular muscles. This autoimmune condition leads to an overproduction of thyroid hormones, which can cause the body's immune system to mistakenly attack the tissues around the eyes, including the extraocular muscles. As these muscles become inflamed and swollen, they can exert pressure on the eyeball, leading to characteristic signs such as proptosis (bulging eyes), diplopia (double vision), and restricted eye movement. The extraocular muscles are crucial for controlling eye movement and maintaining proper alignment of the eyes. When these muscles are affected, it can lead to significant visual disturbances and cosmetic changes, further emphasizing their role in the manifestations of Graves' disease. Other muscle groups listed, like the lacrimal muscles, skeletal muscles, and ciliary muscles, do not primarily contribute to the ocular changes associated with Graves' disease, as their functions and locations pertain more to other aspects of eye function and not directly to the inflammatory processes that alter eye position and movement.